Opinions

Let foot traffic determine monument locationIf the objective of the Emancipation Proclamation Monument is to obtain the maximum exposure for its significance to the African-American community in Fluvanna County, then I believe the monument should be placed at the most frequented public space by African-Americans in our county. Placing the monument in a location where few African-Americans frequent would lessen its historical significance to our population. I’m sure the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors or county government can tell us where African-Americans have the most foot traffic to county public buildings and therefore the best place for the monument.

Editor’s note: Fork Union Military Academy submitted a photo to the Fluvanna Review that identified Cadet Alex Thomas as a bugler.

Trumpet, not bugleThe March 2 photo of the week shows a cadet playing the trumpet, not the bugle. You can’t play the national anthem on a bugle.As a World War II Navy bugler I played a plastic bugle because all metal was being used for war materials. I played trumpet in the big bands in Philadelphia for about 30 years.After the war, I often was called upon to play Taps at deceased veterans’ funerals. I am 89 and still play the trumpet for my own enjoyment.

Serve veteransI was heartened to see a recent letter from a fellow veteran imploring citizens to contact senators and congressmen regarding veterans’ affairs. I heard no such call to arms during the last eight years of the Obama administration. No outrage when Obama stated that the military, therefore veterans, were volunteers and so should pay their own medical expenses. No whining about Mrs. Clinton and her husband Bill’s stating their “loathing for the military” or John Kerry accusing us of being “reminiscent of the hordes of Genghis Khan.” That attitude projected itself blatantly in the mismanagement, callous and criminal behavior of the administrators of the VA. Non-treatment, desperation and suicides abounded, not to mention veterans dismissed to wallow in their own despair in VA parking lots. There were scarce back page reports but never a reckoning.

Analogous to the Department of Education, I doubt hiring more administrators, clerks, lawyers, psychologists and food services personnel will rectify the dilemma. A careful assessment of the present situation, removal of embedded derelict bureaucrats feathering their nest, and bringing in people with the culture and dedication to serve the veteran is in order. I have faith that funds needed to accomplish that mission will be allocated.

The military and veterans overwhelmingly supported President Trump for just those reasons. For sure, I did.

Editor’s note: This letter references a Jan. 12 editor’s note called “Popular or not, we print the news.”

Misconceptions in news mediaMore than half of people, reported from a national survey, named the media their primary source of news on crime. It is often hard to point out which media sources are reporting true, unbiased news. Our local newspaper, the Fluvanna Review, has done a good job at not showing favoritism in its coverage of news stories.

Sensitivity to certain news, especially in a small town like ours, is bound to happen, but it is important to keep in mind the fairness being displayed. Whether it is a community-favored individual or a topic that may upset a political view, there is a right to report all news and crime and a responsibility of the press to the community that these stories are being covered without bias.

Television news reporting on crime can often display suspects differently; for example, by positively or negatively portraying one race over the other. Regardless of what reality is, the media can choose what your perception of reality is. It is important to understand that the news media often times has filters, which chooses to tell a filtered portion of a story. Having a reliable, honest, and fair source of news and factually correct source of crime information is hard to find. Luckily, the staff and editor of our local newspaper have done a good job, and personally stated, how they show no bias in the news they cover.
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Thank you for gerrymandering articleI’m sending out a big thank you for doing the Feb. 2 cover story on our issue of gerrymandering. My director, Brian Cannon, of One Virginia 2021, certainly appreciated the opportunity to address the Lake Monticello Newcomers and Old Friends group, and I know he too will appreciate your coverage. Thank you also to Ruthann Carr, who wrote the story. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. I plan to pick up a few additional copies to take with me to a meeting of the Blue Ridge Regional Council of One Virginia later this month. You guys are just super and a wonderful asset to this community.